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MARINETTE, Wisconsin (AP) -- An accidental meeting with another hunter led to a Hmong immigrant's death in a wildlife area, a county sheriff said Monday, in an incident that has threatened to re-expose racial tensions in the northwoods.
An autopsy confirmed that the death of Cha Vang, 30, of Green Bay was a homicide, said Marinette County Sheriff Jim Kanikula.
He declined to specify the cause of death but said, We are in possession of the weapon or weapons involved.
Vang's body was found Saturday in the Peshtigo Harbor Wildlife Area in northern Wisconsin. Deputies arrested 28-year-old James Nichols of Peshtigo that day at a medical center in Marinette after he showed up with a gunshot wound not considered life-threatening.
Nichols is a suspect in Vang's death and is being held for a probation violation as a felon in possession of a firearm, Kanikula said.
While there is much I would like to tell you, there is much I cannot tell you, Kanikula said at a Monday news conference.
Authorities at the Marinette County jail did not have information Monday night on whether Nichols had a lawyer. A message left at the local public defender's office was not returned.
Vang's death came a little more than two years after Hmong immigrant Chai Soua Vang, 38, of St. Paul, Minnesota, killed six white hunters and injured two in northwestern Wisconsin. He claimed one of them fired in his direction after they shouted racial epithets. He is serving multiple life terms.
Vang is a common name among the Hmong, an ethnic minority group from Southeast Asia. Many have moved into the Midwest.
Even before the 2004 shootings, Hmong hunters claimed they had been harassed, and whites complained that the Hmong do not respect private property.
Kanikula said he did not know whether Vang's death was a hate crime.
Vang and Nichols were using firearms to hunt small game in an area where they had hunted before, Kanikula said. He added that he did not know whether Vang might have been accidentally shot.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.
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This's fudged up. IDK if any of you remember Chai Vang (the man that shot and killed 6 white folks in Northern Wisconsin) but I'm pretty sure this story is linked to that one.
The only reason I am aware of it is b/c I'm originally from Wisconsin and I'm Hmong. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/crazy.gif)
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So its happening all over again. This is sad. And yeah, I do remember the case of the Hmong man shooting six people a couple of years ago.
Living in the rural midwest isn't a good idea for asians.
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Good thing they caught him, if he's found guilty he can go keep Chai company in prison..they'll have plenty to talk about
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^ yah!!
Man, being Hmong seems like such a terrible thing now.
some hmong people ruin it all for the rest of us.
I hope they judge this honestly, not comparing this to the Chai incident.
[i still believe there were racial slurs in there, i would've done the same, kinda.]
[edit]
Why did they use the word IMMIGRANT?! Hmongs were REFUGEES OF WAR!!
THEY'RE DIFFERENT!!
It's pretty FUDGED up, but DAAANG... these hmong people really need to respect
PRIVATE PROPERTY.. and these caucasians need to be nicer or they'll get shot, seriously
if you are yelling racial slurs at someone with a fricken GUN, you're ASKING FOR IT!
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I hope they judge this honestly, not comparing this to the Chai incident.
[i still believe there were racial slurs in there, i would've done the same, kinda.]
Even if there were, it's no excuse to kill half a dozen people and shoot two more. Even if someone fired in his direction, only one of those dead hunters had a gun on his body, and four of the bodies had bullets in their backs (including an unarmed woman who was among those killed) while the rest had multiple rounds fired into them, thus meaning he chased down and shot some while they were running away, and shot them again and again. He admitted to shooting them in the back, to firing over 20 rounds, and also was found to have a history of violence. That doesn't fall under self-defense in any shape or form. That is why he got six life sentences, and why there was very little support in trying to protest or appeal the decision from any community. It's just common sense, and you shouldn't let your race get in the way of it. He deserved what he got
If this guy who just supposedly shot a hmong hunter is found to be guilty of homicide, it will be the same result, both will now be murderers regardless of whether they're white yellow black blue purple etc., and both will be doing alot of time behind bars for it as they should be
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I heard that from my sister's boyfriend... and that's his cousin.... *heavy sigh* rereading this makes me feel like I should stop my dad from going out and hunt....
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Tuesday, January 16, 2007 7:41:45 PM - Source: wluk
MARINETTE, Wis. (AP) - A white hunter was charged Tuesday with
killing a Hmong hunter during a confrontation at a wildlife refuge in a slaying that rekindled racial tensions in Wisconsin.
James Nichols, 28, of Peshtigo, shot and stabbed 30-year-old Cha Vang of Green Bay, whose body was found Jan. 6 in the refuge where both were hunting squirrels, according to a criminal complaint filed in Marinette County Circuit Court.
District Attorney Brent DeBord gave no motive for the killing, which Vangs family said appeared to be racially motivated. Nichols has claimed self-defense, according to the complaint.
Two years ago, a Hmong deer hunter shot six white hunters to death after being accused of trespassing in northwestern Wisconsins Sawyer County. He said that the whites shouted racial epithets at him and opened fire first. He is serving multiple life sentences.
After Vangs death, members of Hmong community said they feared it was retaliation for the earlier killings.
In the complaint, prosecutors said Nichols claimed Vang shot him without provocation after Nichols told Vang to leave because he was interfering with his hunt. Nichols said the two then fought, and he killed Vang.
I know there are many people in the Hmong community and the community at large, that are wondering if this is a hate crime, Dick Campbell, spokesman for Vangs widow, said after the charges were announced. Im wondering that myself.
Nichols told authorities that Hmong people were mean and kill everything and that they go for anything that moves, the complaint said. He also said that the Hmong group are bad, the complaint said.
Vangs body was found covered with leaves and other debris in a depression in the woods after members of his hunting party reported him missing.
An autopsy indicated Vang was hit by a shotgun blast and stabbed six times. He also had a 3- to 4-inch wooden stick coming out of his clenched teeth, the complaint said.
Sheriffs deputies arrested Nichols after he went to a hospital with a .22 caliber bullet lodged in his right hand and an injury to his other hand.
Deputies said Nichols told several versions of his story in claiming self-defense.
He told one that Vang said, Im going to kill you, Im going to kill you, the complaint said. But Vangs wife has said he knew no English.
Nichols was charged with first-degree intentional homicide while armed, hiding a corpse and being a felon in possession of a firearm, all felonies. He was charged as a habitual criminal because of his previous conviction on burglary charges. DeBord said the investigation is continuing into whether more charges should be filed.
Nichols faces up to life in prison plus 39 years and a $50,000 fine if convicted.
Nichols made his first court appearance via a video conference Tuesday afternoon. Wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, he answered the judges questions politely with Yes, sir and rested his elbows on the table, exposing his bandaged hands.
His 20-year-old fiancee, Dacia James, sobbed when Judge David Miron set his bail at $500,000 cash, rejecting his attorneys request for bail to be set not more than $100,000 cash.
The judge scheduled a preliminary hearing Feb. 14.
Nichols public defender Kent Hoffmann said the charges were just allegations and he reserved the right to challenge the sufficiency of the complaint later. He did not elaborate.
He said since Nichols got out of prison in 2002 on felony
burglary charges he has not violated the terms of his probation
until the hunting incident and was not at risk to flee the area.
Before the hearing, James said she didnt believe her fiancee killed Vang intentionally.
I do believe it is self-defense. I dont believe he should be convicted of murder. He was wrong for going hunting with a firearm, Dacia James said.
She said he gave authorities different versions of his story because he knew he wasnt supposed to have a firearm.
James, who has known Nichols for 5 years, said shes never heard him say anything negative about Hmong people.
I cant believe he would say that. He has never been racist or derogatory against someone who didnt deserve it, she said.
James, who helped Nichols hide the hunting shotgun in a Michigan storage locker after Vang was killed, met with sheriffs officials Tuesday and said she has been told she wont be charged.
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Wow.. They have got to stop with the killing and all. Too much death already.
Sorry if this was posted already. ^^;;;
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This is so sad. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) All the signs point to a racially charged hate crime. I know hunting up there is dangerous. My dad used to go hunting all the time and there HAS ALWAYS been hateful racism w/hunting. My dad has been threatened multiple times and he is not dumb guy nor is he defensive irrationaly.
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I cant believe he would say that. He has never been racist or derogatory against someone who didnt deserve it, she said.
So he DOES say things to people he think DESERVES it? The self-defense is a lame excuse. He killed someone and that's all to it. The self-defense didn't work 2 years ago, its not going to work now.
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stabbing someone 6 times is self defense?
i don't know why people go hunting.
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I saw this on the news last night. Its a tragedy that ppl have to died this kind of way. Whether it be white, asian, hispanic, etc...someone doesn't deserve to be murder. This is the 21st century and you think we all learn to be better at understanding who we are and where come from and respect each other, but it just seems that we're getting worst and worst. Mankind - what is that anymore?
Sorry for his family. I hope that guy deserve what he did. Its just not right to let it go.
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join that guy that shot and killed/injured those people in jail. go be his jail buddy and learn to live with the existence of other cultures/races/ethnicities/religions/or whatever by being cooped up in a tiny cell. go on. =='
Nichols told authorities that Hmong people were mean and kill everything and that they go for anything that moves, the complaint said. He also said that the Hmong group are bad, the complaint said.....and yet his fiancee said he doesn't say racist/derogatory stuff about people that don't deserve it. he's talking about hmong people. not vang in particular even though he probably is talking mostly about vang but hes doing it indirectly. so basically hmong people deserve it is what his fiancee is saying? ...lol..i think im taking this too seriously =_=.
An autopsy indicated Vang was hit by a shotgun blast and stabbed six times. He also had a 3- to 4-inch wooden stick coming out of his clenched teeth, the complaint said.Sheriffs deputies arrested Nichols after he went to a hospital with a .22 caliber bullet lodged in his right hand and an injury to his other hand.o_o. what did he do...shoot himself to make it more real and say that he was defending himself from vang and go to the hospital so it could reported? hm...what kind of bullets did vang's gun shoot? what type of bullets does nichol's gun shoot? i mean, even if vang had .22 caliber bullets on him, nichols could have used vang's gun. but then it would leave fingerprints lol =_=. mm...what happened to his other hand?
Deputies said Nichols told several versions of his story in claiming self-defense.
He told one that Vang said, Im going to kill you, Im going to kill you, the complaint said. But Vangs wife has said he knew no English.there's probably a high possibility that what vang's wife said is true. ._. but ... why would vang say that [let's just rule out the possibility that he was racist], unless he was irritated because of nichols? if they were just shooting squirrels peacefully (IMG:style_emoticons/default/crazy.gif) , i don't think that they would really start attacking each other for no reason unless they did it out of hate and i'm not sure if that's true or not.
Before the hearing, James said she didnt believe her fiancee killed Vang intentionally.
I do believe it is self-defense. I dont believe he should be convicted of murder. He was wrong for going hunting with a firearm, Dacia James said.
She said he gave authorities different versions of his story because he knew he wasnt supposed to have a firearm.
James, who has known Nichols for 5 years, said shes never heard him say anything negative about Hmong people.
I cant believe he would say that. He has never been racist or derogatory against someone who didnt deserve it, she said.
James, who helped Nichols hide the hunting shotgun in a Michigan storage locker after Vang was killed, met with sheriffs officials Tuesday and said she has been told she wont be charged.
=_=...well, still even if there was no murder but there was shooting, he was possessing a firearm and he wasn't supposed to so he would've been convicted of something anyway. she just participated in the crime, imo, by helping the person hide the firearm used to kill vang.
and wtfreak self-defense? okay, i can understand that if it wasn't that he was stabbed 6 times =_=!!
oh yeah sure. he wasn't being racist or derogatory against someone who didnt deserve it. ....he said some racist and derogatory stuff up there, lady. and still, even if a person deserved it doesn't mean it makes it right to say racist remarks, yo. and if that person's DEAD and the killer is saying HMONG people, not VANG himself, then isn't he being racist against hmong people? D: so yeah, if you explain his remarks by saying he doesn't say those things unless they deserve it well, since he's talking about hmong people in general, does that mean hmong people deserve having racist and derogatory comments said about them? =_=. be careful of what you say.
